The Thumb Sucker

None of our children have ever really sucked on their thumb much. When Glory and Levi were little they used to munch on their fingers when there was not anything else near by. But now there is Daniel, and Daniel knows exactly how to use his thumb. Though we try not to let him suck on it continuously and therefore develop into a habit, it is still really fun to watch him.

Speechless

Every once in a while, one of our little people does something that leaves me completely without a worthy reply. For example, the other day while we were having a nice time rolling around on our new carpet-remnant area rug, getting out the last few sillies before bedtime. Glory, looking concerned, came over and said, "Mama, look!", showing me a mysterious gray gunk on the inside of her shirt tail. After putting bits and pieces of the saga together, I realized that this tale was to crazy to keep to myself, so I sent her to go show Taylor. This is what he heard:

"I was done with my gum." There is a long pause as Taylor finds the courage to ask what she did with it. And then, comes the obvious, if not logical answer..."so I stuck it in my belly button". :P

Sure enough, upon examination, where her belly button should have been, there could only be seen this odd gray glop. Choking back tears of laughter, we marched her to the bathroom. After a lot of Vaseline and the appropriate, "Always, always, ALWAYS put gum in the trash when you are finished with it...NEVER anywhere else...especially your belly button!" admonition, we got ready for bed. Just another day...thank You, Lord, for all of them! :)

Mexico

Here's a picture of Mr. Smith and a few of his friends in Reynosa outside of his new building. I'll try to get a few more pictures up soon!

We are back at Taylor's mom's house now, after spending a few days vacation with Clifford Smith on the Mexican border. On a one-day side trip, Mr. Smith took us to the beach. The rest of the time we went over with him to Reynosa, Mexico. It was a whirlwind trip, but we are very glad to have gone! :) Our Spanish has improved a little since the last time we went to Mexico several years ago, but it still needs a lot of work. Though, as our kids found out, attention-starved children will play with you whether or not you can understand them. Levi enjoyed playing hide and seek and tag with a little boy named Juan. They would run around chasing eachother and roaring like lions! Glory was completely fascinated with the whole concept of being in a foreign country. She's a words and letters person anyway, and is really enjoying this second language thing! One night, Mr. Smith took us, and ten Mexican children to Carl's Jr. (a hamburger place) for supper and to play on the play equipment. Glory had a blast climbing up the slides and laughing with the kids, even though she could only answer a couple of their questions.

We had the priviledge of twirling jump ropes and playing basketball, of holding little-people and spending a wonderful evening talking to house-parents that work in a nearby orphanage. We hope we were a small encouragement to the saints there, but the LORD certainly used it to warm up our hearts! :) We wonder what the LORD has planned for us, but whether He intends for us to work for Him in foreign places or work for Him from our own backyard, but we pray that in His grace, we and our children will be ready to take up our crosses and follow Him!

Laundry

Every once in a while, something extremely ordinary is used to trigger an extra-ordinary wave of thankfulness. Such was the case as I came to the bottom of my laundry pile this afternoon! Thank You, Lord, for my men - the big one and the little ones! :)

and the fun continues...

For the past several days, we have done absolutely nothing productive. Glory, Levi, and Daniel have been sick. Glory had had a minor cough for most of last week, which didn't concern us until her fever spiked on Sunday. Considering her track record and last year's week in the hospital with pneumonia, we took her to Dr. David for an x-ray. They saw a small smudge on the x-ray, which we can't be sure whether is a small pneumonia or simply scarring from before. She was put on a week's worth of antibiotics to be on the safe side. What we do know is that she has a lovely virus that causes bronchitis and fever...we have taught her early in life to share with her brothers, who are now hacking away. ...and tribulation worketh patience and patience experience, and experience, hope, right? (I'm so glad we have that true HOPE that maketh not ashamed! Thank You, Lord, that we have Someone eternal and faithful and lasting to put our hope in! Anyway, back to our saga...Glory is doing much better today and I hope tomorrow to be considered cured (though still finishing up her round of antibiotics.) Levi and Dan still look pretty sad. :( As for Taylor and I, we are waiting for our turn...as often as we have been caughed, sneezed and slobbered on, we are WELL exposed. Yet, we have a lot of friends praying for us! Lord willing, in the next few days, I'll have something more fun to blog about! :)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. " Romans 8:28

Old English Poetry that Ever Rings True

Unpacking CHRISTmas decorations with the big kids today, I ran across a poem that I really like. For those of you who didn't grow up on King James' English, take heart...this really is worth wading through to find the meat of what was meant. Enjoy!

The True Christmas
by Henry Vaughn

The brightness of this day we owe
Not unto music, masque, nor show,
Nor gallant furniture, nor plate;
But to the manger's mean estate.
His life while here, as well as birth,
Was but a check to pomp and mirth;
And all man's greatness you may see
Condemned by His humility.
Then leave your open house and noise,
To welcome Him with holy joys,
And the poor shepherd's watchfulness
whom light and hymn from heaven did bless.
What you abound with, cast abroad
To those that want, and ease your load.
Who empties thus, will bring more in;
But riot is both loss and sin.
Dress finely what comes not is sight,
And then you keep your Christmas right.

Wonderful Windy West Texas

I grew up in West Texas; I should be used to windstorms. However, this lonely hill top we live on has taught me a lot about the power of the One who makes the wind blow wherever He wishes! We were enjoying a typical morning when Taylor sent me a message saying that the cold front we are expecting was on it's way, pushing a lot of wind in front of it. (Translation: please brave your way outside and rescue anything that's blowing around and cover the water faucets we should have covered two days ago. Thanks! ) So, leaving Daniel to sleep on his mat in the house, the big kids and I went out to brave the blast, which Taylor informs me is gusting up to 45 miles per hour. :) The kids picked up their toys and put them in the barn while I took the mail out to the mail box. When I came back, Glory bravely threw herself on top of the laundry basket while I stuffed clothes under her to keep them from blowing away. By this time, Levi was tired of standing up, so I sent him to sit on the porch with the dog out of the wind. As soon as we had rescued the laundry, I sent the kids inside and fed the chickens and drained the water hoses. We are now all back inside the calm of the house, four kinds of tired and hair standing up like we had volunteered for a science demonstration. Whew! Scripture tells us to be content with such things as we have; I suppose that includes the wind - which we definitely have our share of!